BOROUGH POWER PLANT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 120, 23 April 1925, Page 9

BOROUGH POWER PLANT.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. Tho borough electrical engineer (Mr J W. Muir) presented to the meeting of the council this week a monthly and annual report on tho operation of the borough electrical scheme. It stated, inter alia:—The number 'f services run during the month was ,29. The inspection department carried out 113 inspections during the month, including 10 extensions, making the total number of connections 2103, which, together with the number ol group jobs obtained during tho month (25), made tho assured number of consumers 2128. The power station returns were ns follow —station pejvtc, OJC kw. on 22nd March, 7 p.m.; coal consumed, 176 tons 11 units generated, 146,730; oil used, (3 gallons. The number of consumers connected up during the year was 2103. This was no doubt a record for a town of the size of Palmerston North. For instance, in the year ending 31st March, 1924, Wellington City coupled up 1035 consumers, Christchurch City 2641, Auckland Power Board 4733, Dunedin City 1255, Wanganui City 1072. The department carried out 1300 contracts, the value of these being £20,824 14s 6d, and it was safe to estimate that by the department handling this work, a sum oi over £3OOO was saved to those consumers Two hundred and fifty-two motors of a total of 680 h.p. were installed. Twenty-seven electric stoves were installed, also 27 water heaters. Both stoves and water heaters _ were gi' mg satisfaction and were being installed in increasing numbers. Community lighting had taken on exceptionally well, a total of 122 community lights having been installed, which would increase the revenue account by £6lO. The balance-sheet now being compiled showed that the estimated revenue was £11.700, the actual revenue was £13,309 2s Od, an increase of £1559 2s Od. The estimated expenditure vvas £10,216 3s 7d, the actual expenditure was £9805 16s 2d j excess ol revenue over running cost £3503 6s 4d. An amount of £2229 15s 6d was spent out of revenue during the year for lines, services and meters, which is a capital expenditure. Loan work to the value of £9112 for extensions to lines and service connections was carried out. The revenue from the trading department showroom for the year was £3138 2s lid, showing an approximate net profit of £367. The prospects for the coming year were very bright. Already the demand for installations was increasing, and the engineer estimated that at least another thousand consumers would be connected up this year. February’s figure was 109. March 120, so that the present rate of progress did not have to be maintained to get the above estimated figure.— The report was adopted.